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The end of the regular season is near, which means it’s time start talking Mr. Football.
Every year, the 615 is well-represented by players at the end of the year banquet at Nissan Stadium as the state’s best are presented with the most prestigious individual award.
What players can we expect to see them this December? There’s no shortage of names to go through.
Based off of what the players have done up to this point in the season, we compiled a list of players from several area programs that need to be in talks to be considered as semifinalists, finalists and winners when the group of sports writers from around the state come together to make their choices.
While several players should be considered, we kept our list to typically just one individual per team aside from a few programs with multiple individuals who have stood out. Nearly every player listed is also one selected and sent to us by their head coach.
Division II-AAA
Tommy Bauchiero, Brentwood Academy, Sr.: Bauchiero’s proven to be one of the state’s best kickers converting 7 of his 10 attempts with a long of 58 yards. He’s also averaging 44.3 yards per punt and 41 of his 45 kick off attempts have been touchbacks.
Kesean Bowman, Brentwood Academy, Jr.: Bowman’s proven to be one of the state’s best receivers recording 33 receptions for 476 yards and nine touchdowns.
Larry Sanders, Brentwood Academy, Sr.: Sanders has more than proven that he’s one of the area’s best rushing for 921 yards and 13 touchdowns on 126 carries.
Owen Cabell, CPA, Sr.: You have to be a pretty good receiver to be committed to Alabama and Cabell is exactly that. He’s one of the area’s top pass-catchers with 35 receptions for 616 yards and six touchdowns.
EJ Gibson, Ensworth, Jr.: Gibson was primed for a massive junior season and he’s lived up to hype. On the year he has 154 carries for 1,082 yards and 17 touchdowns.
Cam Blivens, Lipscomb Academy, Sr.: Blivens has been the definition of efficient this season catching 38 passes for 660 yards and six touchdowns. He’s accounted for 827 total yards, 17 tackles on defense, one interception and a punt return for six.
Division II-AA
Kaedyn Marable, BGA, Sr.: Marable’s been one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the state this year going 93-for-119 for 1,784 yards and 27 touchdowns with only one interception. He’s also rushed for 282 yards and seven more touchdowns.
Mike Hassell, FRA, Sr.: There’s really nothing Hassell can’t do for the Panthers. He’s their leading rusher with 70 carries for 612 yards and 10 touchdowns to go along with 26 receptions for 299 yards and two touchdowns, one defensive touchdown and a kickoff returned for a touchdown.
Knox Lambert, GCA, Sr.: Lambert is a major reason why the Lions are off to their best start in school history. He’s completed 67% of his passes for 1,538 yards and 16 touchdowns.
Caden Stroud, Goodpasture, Sr.: Transferring in from Davidson Academy before the season, it didn’t take Stroud long to establish himself as the Cougars’ top offensive weapon. On 136 carries he’s rushed for 716 yards and 15 touchdowns.
Sam Bowers, Pope John Paul II, Sr.: Bowers is one of the top receivers in DII-AA this season catching 40 passes for 780 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also has 55 yards and five more touchdowns on only nine carries.
Division II-A
Terris Smith, Ezell-Harding, Sr.: Better known as ‘Peeti’, Smith does it all on both sides of the ball for the Eagles. Offensively he has 87 carries for 1,087 yards and 11 touchdowns to go with 44 tackles, five tackles for loss, two sacks, two forced fumbles and two interceptions on defense.
Ryder Wolcott, Friendship Christian, Fr.: Like his older brother did before him, Ryder is putting together Mr. Football type of numbers. He’s rushed for 634 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Alie Bangura, MTCS, So.: Bangura broke onto the scene as a freshman and has only gotten better this year. In seven games, he’s rushed for 775 yards and nine touchdowns on 93 carries.
Jared Curtis, Nashville Christian, Sr.: Curtis has missed a few games due to injury, but put up video game-like numbers in the five he’s played in. The Georgia commit is 71-for-110 passing for 1,005 yards and 14 touchdowns while also rushing for 199 yards and four touchdowns.
TJ Ward, Nashville Christian, Sr.: Ward said before the season started he wanted to rush for 2,000 yards and win Mr. Football. He looks like he could do both, as he’s accounted for 867 yards and 19 touchdowns, averaging 10.1 yards a carry.
Class 6A
Andre Adams, Antioch, Jr.: Adams has established himself as the frontrunner in the Class 6A race. He’s completed 72% of his passes for 2,421 yards and 29 touchdowns and only one interception, while also rushing for 705 yards and 10 more touchdowns.
Brandon Goliday, Antioch, Sr.: Adams’ favorite target, Goliday’s proven to be one of the state’s top receivers catching 52 passes for 1,193 yards and 15 touchdowns.
Keenan Fisher, Brentwood, Sr.: Fisher’s one of the Bruins’ biggest weapons this year. On the season he’s made 3-of-4 field goals with a long kick of 52 yards, while also averaging 39.4 yards a punt.
Kannon Burroughs, Green Hill, Sr.: Burroughs is once again one of the area’s best dual-threat quarterbacks. He’s completed 87-of-149 passes for 1,197 yards and 11 touchdowns to go along with 69 carries for 500 yards and eight more touchdowns.
Gyan Ezeta, Lebanon, Jr.: Ezeta’s a weapon with the ball in his hands. Despite missing a pair of games, he’s still rushed for 717 yards and scored 13 total touchdowns.
Justis Haggard, Oakland, Sr.: Haggard’s been a welcome addition to an already loaded Patriots squad making plays on both sides of the ball. He’s rushed for 317 yards and a team-high nine touchdowns while also recording 25 tackles and a pair of interceptions.
Matthew Anderson, Ravenwood, Sr.: A heat-seeking missile, Anderson leads a prolific Raptors defense. On the year he’s recorded 72 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, seven pass breakups, five sacks, three forced fumbles and an interception.
Femi Babalola, Ravenwood, Sr.: Even while splitting time under center, Babalola has arguably been at his best this year completing nearly 60% of his passes for 1,000 yards and seven touchdowns. He’s also rushed for 270 yards and seven more touchdowns.
Carlos Guerra, Ravenwood, Sr.: Guerra’s having a great senior season going 4-for-7 on field goals with a long of 45 yards.
Chaz Martin, Wilson Central, Sr.: Wilson’s run all over teams this year as the Wildcats’ top rusher. He has 164 carries for 1,204 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Class 5A
DK Williams, Beech, Jr.: Williams is the defensive leader for a Buccaneers defense that has continually gotten better since Week 1. He’s totaled 77 tackles, eight tackles for loss, six quarterback pressures, three sacks and two forced fumbles.
Mitchell Grandjean, Centennial, Sr.: Grandjean’s transfer to Centennial has worked out well for him as he’s compeleted 77% of his passes for 1,521 yards and 21 touchdowns to go along with 320 yards and two more touchdowns on the ground.
Donte Perry, Hillsboro, Sr.: Perry’s been a work horse for the Burros offense this year with 106 carries for 895 yards and five touchdowns. On defense he’s recorded 18 tackles, six tackles for loss and a forced fumble.
Oliver Bender, Nolensville, Sr.: Bender’s been one of the area’s top receivers since his sophomore year and is having another great season with 21 receptions for 535 yards and six touchdowns.
Cameron Kruse, Page, Jr.: Kruse has become a welcome addition to what’s become a potent Patriots offense. He’s completed 75% of his passes for 870 yards and 11 touchdowns while also rushing for 268 yards and four touchdowns.
Avery Hughes, Portland, Sr.: You’ll be hard-pressed to find a player in the area with better defensive numbers than Hughes. The Navy commitment has 48 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, 10 quarterback pressures. He’s also rushed for 247 yards and two touchdowns.
Class 4A
LJ Funk, Pearl-Cohn, Jr.: Funk’s coordinated a highly-efficient Firebirds offense through a brutal first four games of the year. He’s completed 62% of his passes for 1,422 yards and 15 touchdowns to go with two rushing touchdowns.
Kason Woodson, Springfield, Jr.: Woodson’s vastly improved from an up-and-down sophomore year now becoming one of the area’s best signal callers. He’s 66-for-119 passing with 1,063 yards and 13 touchdowns to go along with 58 carries for 438 yards and five touchdowns.
Class 3A
Bryon Harrison, Fairview, So.: The Yellow Jackets have their running back of the future in Harrison. He’s broke onto the scene this year with 98 carries for 778 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Hicks Hunter, Sycamore, Sr.: Hunter’s closing out his high school career with a bang. Through seven games he has 145 carries for 1,058 yards and 13 touchdowns On defense he’s recorded 20 tackles, 5 tackles for loss and a pick-six.
Xavier Murray, White House Heritage, Sr.: Murray’s once again putting up great numbers as he’s completed 68% of his passes for 1,393 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Deon Barnes, Whites Creek, So.: Barnes has quickly established himself as one of the state’s top sophomores completing 64% of his passes for 19 touchdowns with only two interceptions. He’s also run for 268 yards and two touchdowns.
De’Aries Holland, Whites Creek, So.: Holland is Barnes’ favorite target and a sophomore top college programs are very interested in. He leads the Cobras with 33 receptions for 667 yards and 11 touchdowns to go with two rushing touchdowns, 22 tackles and an interception.
Class 2A
Eli Garrett, Cannon County, Sr.: Garrett is stat-producing machine for a Lions offense that’s put up video game-like numbers this year. He’s completed 71% of his passes for 1,723 yards and 22 touchdowns while rushing for three more touchdowns.
Cade Brooks, East Robertson, Sr.: Brooks is the Indians’ potent pass-catching threat catching 24 passes for 775 yards and nine touchdowns. He’s also rushed for 217 yards and two touchdowns.
Kason Young, East Robertson, Jr.: Young was a Mr. Football finalist last season and looks well on his way to earning that honor again. On the season he’s 79-for-118 passing for 1,680 yards and 18 touchdowns with only one interception. He’s also run for 369 yards and six more touchdowns.
Dallas Covington, East Nashville, Jr.: Injuries have taken their toll on the Eagles but Covington has kept the offense clicking going 65-for-82 passing for 951 yards and nine touchdowns. He’s also rushed for 344 yards and three touchdowns.
Turner Buchner, Gordonsville, So.: Buchner is the leading rusher for a balanced Tigers ground game scoring nine touchdowns and rushing a team-high 708 yards.
Bobby Cripps, Gordonsville, Sr.: Cripps is the defensive leader for a Tigers defense that’s been one of the best in 2A this year, recording 63 tackles and 14 tackles for loss.
Class 1A
Jonathan Jordan, Eagleville, Sr.: There really isn’t anything Jordan can’t do. On offense he has 65 carries for 912 yards and 19 touchdowns to go with 69 tackles, three forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and a sack on defense.
Jake Walker, Jo Byrns, Sr.: Walker’s booted field goals of 42, 48 and 59 yards this season while also averaging 53 yards a punt.
Clay Woody, Jo Byrns, Sr.: Woody does a bit of everything for the Red Devils. Entering last week he was 24-for-54 passing for 478 yards and eight touchdowns had 39 carries for 441 yards and two touchdowns along with seven receptions for 97 yards and a touchdown; He also had two punt returns for a touchdown to go with 42 tackles and an interception on defense.
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